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2011 Delegation Bios

Russian Climate Change Delegation (June 18-26, 2011)

Tamara Burenina, from Krasnoyarsk (population of 970,000), is the Senior Researcher at the V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest under the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences. She is also an Associate Professor at the Siberian State Technological University. Tamara is one of the leading Russian scholars in the field of forest hydrology and climatology. By combining research work with teaching activities, she is dedicated to the training of scientists and for their professional development.

Irina Fetsenko, from Naro-Fominsk (population of 70,000), is a Teacher of Biology, Ecology, and Chemistry at the Municipal Secondary Educational Institution “Vasil'chinovskaya.” Irina Alekseevna is a creative teacher who won the award of "The Teacher of the Year" in her district in 2008. She has organized the environmental club "Muraveinki" ("Anthill"), which has been working for 6 years. She graduated with a degree from Tomsk State Pedagogical Institute as a Secondary School Teacher.

Nikolay Khardayev, from Ulan Ude (population of 360,000), is the Director of the business contact center “Baikal, LLC.” He is also the Development Director of the nonprofit partnership, “Baikal EcoTourism Association.” The main focus of his work is to develop sustainable environmental tourism at the Lake Baikal region. Currently, he is working on the development of eco campgrounds at Lake Baikal and a project on collection and disposal garbage from tourists. He has a PhD in Engineering Technology from the East-Siberian Technological Institute.

MarinaShelkunova, fromBryansk(population of430,000), is the Youth Group Leader and Co-Director of the Climate & Safe Energy Programs for the NGO “Viola.” Her work focuses on encouraging high school students and young people living in Central Federal District of the Russian Federation to take an active part in the efforts to save energy and move towards efficient energy use, to develop alternative kinds of energy, and to prevent climate change. Since 2010, Marina has been a member of the NGO Viola workgroup for interactions with the Public Chamber of Russia and Youth European Parliament. Marina organized and coordinated the action for Bryansk region school children for the “Alternative Energy” program in 2009. She organizes workshops nuclear safety for children who live near Chernobyl.

Facilitator Profile:

AndreyKrikunov, from Moscow(population of 10 million), is the Executive Assistant to the President for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games Organizing Committee. In the past, he has worked as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the magazine “Charity in Russia.” He graduated from Tomsk State University with a degree in International Relations.

Tajikistan Delegation (May 14-24, 2011)

Foziljon Asoev, from Tangai in the Vahdat District, is the Senior Specialist for the State Department for Special Conservation Nature Territories under the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan. He works on the planning of nature protection activities of reserves and natural parks and the sustainable management of special conservation territories. Foziljon came to the department after graduating from the Biology department of Tajik National University in September 2006.

Mirzoshoh Akobirov, from Rasht, is the Manager of the Farm “Dehkan Farm Kuhsori Ajam” and is the Deputy of the Local Council. He is well-versed in Tajik culture and history as he has his own museum with ancient artifacts from the region. He is a skilled horticulturist with his own diversified orchard. Mirzoshoh is the president of his own NGO, which is currently working to develop tourism officially in Rasht Valley. He graduated from the Institute of Agriculture in Dushanbe as an Agronomist. He worked as an agronomist for over 9 years for the Agricultural and Chemical Enterprise of Gharm Region. His website is: www.visitrasht.org

Nematullo Davlatov, from Kulob in the Khatlon Region, is an Interpreter and Guide for the State Institution of Forestry of the Kulob Region. He has been cooperating closely for three years with the nature protection and special reserve areas authorities in order to provide services for local and foreign tourists. He has developed a map of tourist routes in Kulob regions on the territory of forestry enterprise and special reserve areas. Nematullo also worked out arrangements with private homes in wildlife preserves and a national park to provide tourist accommodations within the local communities. He graduated from Kulob State University with a degree from its Department of Foreign Languages as a Teacher/Interpreter of English.

Nasrullo Tuychizoda, from Dushanbe (Capitol of Tajikistan), is a Specialist in the Department on Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism of DushanbeCity. His primary responsibilities are organizing activities, round tables, competitions on tourism among students and tourism specialists and other representatives of tourism agencies and the government. Nasrullo volunteers as an advisor for the organization, “Youth Unity of Tajikistan.” He graduated from Tursunzoda Tajik State Institute of Arts as a Cultural Expert.

Okimbek Yusufbekov, from Khorog, is the Chief Specialist for the Regional Board of Tajik National Parks in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province (GBAO). His work focuses on the development of ecotourism in the protected natural territories of Tajik National Park, the development of tourist routes, establishment of ecotourism infrastructure, and the preservation and protection of natural landscapes and biodiversity in the National Park. Okimbek graduated as an Economist-International Affairs Expert from Nazarshoev Khorog State University.

Facilitator Profile:

Naim Avezov, from Khujand, is the U.S. Education Advisor for the Khujand Education Advising Center. He graduated from Tajik University of Technology with a degree in Financial Management. He studied Finance and Management at Montana State University at Bozeman. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Tajikistan building homes for the poor.

Siberia’s Lake Baikal Delegation (March 31 - April 10, 2011)

Artem Artishchev, from an industrial city in the Irkutsk region, Angarsk (population 262,000), is the president of the Irkutsk Regional Cultural Organization, “YAR”, and is working to develop environmental and ethnographic tourism, including Lake Baikal. His primary focus is on the cultural preservation of the Evenks, the indigenous people of the Irkutsk region. Artem is also a travel guide with the company, “Baikal Tour Industry”, where he organizes outdoor camps, backpacking trips, and ethnic tours.

Galina Beketova, from the village of Ust-Barguzin (population 7,300) in the Republic of Buryatia, is the owner of the world famous Beketov’s Guest House near Zabaikalsky National Park. She plans tours for international tourists in the Lake Baikal region. Due to Galina’s efforts, Ust-Barguzin has become one of the first places in the Baikal area where tourists are welcomed in homestays. In 2010, she hosted 300 tourists from 21 countries. Galina is well known for her incredible cooking of traditional Siberian food. She also teaches at the Ust-Barguzinsk Middle School where she leads outdoor education programs.

Dmitriy Chuprikov, from the city of Irkutsk (population of 593,000) is a Project Coordinator for the NGO, Great Baikal Trail (GBT). He is also a graduate student at Baikal State University of Economics and Law researching the field of ecotourism. With GBT, Dmitiriy leads backpacking trips throughout the Baikal region where international volunteers help build hiking trails.

Irina Dyachek, from the small town of Severobaykalsk, located on the northern shore of Lake Baikal (population of 25,800) is a tour operator for the ecotourism agency, “EcoLand”. She organizes camping trips, horseback riding adventures and tours on yachts and to hot springs in the rural northern area of Lake Baikal. She is currently working on developing cultural and environmental preservation tours.

Yelena Guseva, from the Capital of the Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude (population 360,000), is an Instructor at Buryat State University in the Department of Tourism & Sport Management. In addition, she is a Member and the Secretary of the Extreme Sports Association, "Baykalskiy Ekstrim," and the Assistant Camp Leader for the Great Baikal Trail. Yelena has a lot of work experience in the organization and coordination of eco-tourism expeditions. She is a regular participant of rock-climbing camps and has worked as an instructor in rock climbing. Yelena has actively participated in the designing and building of hiking trails. She graduated with a degree in Physical Education and Sports from Buryat State University.

Viktoriya Krasnopevtseva, from a village in the Republic of Buryatia, Tankhoy (population 1,000), is the Director of Environmental Outreach Unit of the Baikal Biosphere Reserve. She also volunteers for the NGO Baikal Center for Innovation. Her work focuses on informing the local community about the activities of the nature reserve, promoting nature preservation, and developing ecotourism. She has helped organize many working camps involving over 400 volunteers with the NGO “Great Baikal Trail” to build hiking trails. She has a PhD in Biology from Irkutsk State University.

Yevgeniy Lysov, from the Capital of the Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude (population 360,000) is a Rescuer with the Republic of Buryatiya’s Department of Search and Rescue Service where he is the head of the team for nature disaster response, and search and rescue. He also works with the environmental NGO, FIRN where he organizes hikes and expeditions where volunteers build hiking trails and he works on the implementation of safety measures on the hiking trails. He is a graduate of the Western Siberian Academy of Culture and Arts with a major in tourism management.

Andrey Osipov, from Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia (population 360,000), is the General Director of the Information Technology Training Center, LLC and the President of the NGO Buryatia Republic Hospitality Association. He is an active member of Buryatia tourism industry community and is very interested in promoting the region in the tourist market. Currently he is working on projects to develop ecotourism infrastructure and establish tourist routes. He graduated from East-Siberian State Academy of Culture and Arts with a degree in Management focusing on Economics and Social areas.

Leonid Sakharov, from a village in the Republic of Buryatia, Ust-Barguzin (population 7,300), is a Senior Officer in parks security at Zabaikalsky National Park, where he deals with criminal cases in regards to park violations such as poaching. Leonid also represents the park in the courts in regards to any park violations. He is a specialist in forest management and monitors the preservation of forest and water resources within the park territory. He is also trained as a forest firefighter.

Lyubov Shrager, from the village of Ust-Barguzin (population 7,300) in the Republic of Buryatia, is the Environmental Education Resource Specialist at Zabaikalsky National Park. She also volunteers as the Chair of School Board for Ust-Barguzin Secondary School. Lyubov Shrager has been working in Zabaikalsky National Park for almost 18 years. The main objectives of her work are to coordinate work with children, organize tour programs in the park and work with the visitors. She is well-experienced in coordinating environmental programs for Russian and foreign visitors. She is also a member of the public environmental organization Together With Baikal whose goal is to develop ecotourism and provide environmental education to children. Lyubov graduated as a Forest Engineer from the Krasnoyarsk Siberian Techological Institute.

Facilitator Profiles:

Anna Avinskaya, from St. Petersburg (population 4.6 million), is the Chief Translator for the company KPMG. She graduated with a degree in Modern Greek Philology from St. Petersburg State University.

Svetlana Kos, from the capital and most populous city of the Russian Federation, Moscow (10.5 million) is a choreographer with the educational youth center “Planet of Youth”. She is a professional vocalists and works as a professional interpreter.

Kazakhstan Delegation (February 26-March 6, 2011)

Shynar Izteleuova, from Atyrau (population 150,000), is the Co-Director of the Jaik-Caspian Aarhus Center in Atyrau. For the past 10 years, Shynar has worked as a prominent environmental leader as the Director of the NGO Support Center TAN. She works to improve collaboration between environmental organizations and to increase communication between governmental and nongovernmental organizations on environmental issues. Her primary focus is the adoption in the Caspian region of the Aarhus convention on environmental transparency and rights. Shynar has organized multi-stakeholder dialogues and public hearings on challenges in the Caspian region such as oil spills and radioactive and toxic waste.

Yerbol Kuanov, from Atyrau, is the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Regulation of the Atyrau region. He is a key governmental official who is responsible for the local natural resource use plan and the development and compliance of ecological legislation and requirements with a focus on local factories and oil companies. Currently, Yerbol serves as a member of the advisory council for the Jaik-Caspian Aarhus Center in Atyrau. In the past, he worked as the Assistant to the Prosecutor of the Atyrau region on nature protection issues.

Anastasiya Syropyatova, from Temirtau (population 180,000), is the Main State Environmental Inspector for the Committee of Environmental Regulation and Control within the Nura-Sarysuiskii Department of Environment. She is responsible for inspecting the local factories to make sure they comply with legal requirements and follow the local guidelines of waste management and pollution. Anastasiya graduated from E. A. Buketov Karaganda State University with a degree in Environment and Nature Management.

Dmitriy Tereshkevich, from Astana (capitol of Kazakhstan, population 700,000), is the Director of the NGO “Health Institute.” He serves as a Member on the Coordination Council of the Eco-Forum of Kazakhstan NGOs and as a Member of the Public Council of Central Asia Sustainable Development International Commission. Through his leadership, the program “Eco-Forum Wings” initiated youth ecological movements and projects throughout the country. In addition, Dmitriy participated in development of Sub-regional Sustainable Development Strategy of the Central Asian countries. He graduated from Kazakh State Medical Academy as a Doctor-Microbiologist.

Suyundik Turekeldiyev, from Astana (capitol of Kazakhstan, population 700,000), is the Deputy Chair of the Committee of Ecological Regulation and Control within the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) of Kazakhstan. As one of the key public officials in the MEP, he is responsible for environmental policy and legislation in Kazakhstan. He works on issues of industrial and consumer waste management, develops and oversees the waste management system on a national level, and manages a registry of contaminated and polluted areas in Kazakhstan. Suyundik holds a PhD from the Kazakh State Academy of Management.

Kaisha Atakhanova, from Almaty (former capitol of Kazakhstan, population 1.3 million), is the Director of the NGO "Social Ecofund" and a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2005. She serves as a Board Member for the Ecoforum, which is the largest umbrella organization of NGOs in Kazakhstan. Kaisha was the Director of the NGO “EcoCenter” and also worked as a Senior Scientist in the Biology Department of Karaganda State University, where she graduated with a Master of Science in Biology.